Lighthouse Beach (Nettley Bay)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Swell
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Lighthouse Beach (Nettley Bay) is an exposed, sand beach break on Tasmania’s West Coast that tends to deliver fairly consistent surf, with February noted as the best month for conditions. Surf is described as mainly left-handed in one account, while other reports describe a powerful and consistent beach break that picks up significant Southern Ocean swell. Wave quality is generally good, and the wave shape is most often characterized as peeling. Wind conditions are tied closely to east winds: the best wind direction is reported as east, and February is also where the wind statistics align with the cleanest window (with monthly blown vs clean percentages reported). This matters for surfing because east winds are described as offshore/cleanest, while southwest winds are described as sheltering for wave exposure. Safety is a major factor at this spot. Multiple sources call out rips/undertow/strong currents, plus rocks and kelp. The water is very cold—winter temperatures around 13°C are specifically highlighted—so a warm wetsuit and boots are essential. The location is remote with limited/no dedicated rescue coverage, and it’s advised to bring all supplies and surf with a partner. Despite the challenging conditions, the break is rarely crowded, and it’s noted to work across tides. For visitors, access is typically via beach paths or gravel tracks through protected terrain, and parking is limited near access points.
- Exposed but often consistent surf
- East/offshore wind window aligns with February best conditions
- Works at all tides
- Exposed but often fairly consistent surf.
- Works across tides; generally rarely crowded.
- Best winds are associated with east/offshore conditions, improving wave usability for surfing.
- Very cold water year-round; requires warm wetsuit/boots.
- Exposed and remote—high isolation risk and limited rescue options.
- Rips/undertow and strong currents are common.
- Rocks/kelp at the ends of the beach can create hazards.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E
- Offshore directions
- E
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Gradient — East winds dominate at this spot; winds are described as gradient rather than thermal.
- Reliability
- 62% blown in February; 36% clean
- Gust Factor
- Steady — No strong gust class reported for the primary wind window; ground-truth reports blown vs clean percentages.
- Best Months
- February
- Shadow Zones
- Possible wind shadows close to the northern headland under the lighthouse.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Also described as big in some reports.
- Launch
- Small — Shore launch from the beach.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Shore launch described as easy; another provider describes access/launch as moderate due to remoteness.
Through the year
Generally very quiet and uncrowded year-round; best conditions reported for summer (especially February).
Winter (June–August) brings the most frequent and intense Southern Ocean storms.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed, fairly consistent beach break with left-leaning wave production in one description and also described as picking up Southern Ocean swell with strong, peeling waves in others.
- Optimal Swell
- SW, W
- Swell Height
- 1.5–3.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — One provider notes it works at all tides; another notes optimal tide as mid.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Highly exposed coastline at Nettley Bay / Marrawah coast.
- Wind Effect
- Best with offshore east winds; sheltered from southwest winds (when applicable). East winds are also described as offshore and cleanest conditions.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well but can become heavy and disorganized with very large swells, often closing out.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Often described as good; can be affected by wind onshore/offshore windows.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Power can increase significantly with Southern Ocean swell.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Consistently peeling character reported.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Also described as fast in some conditions.
- Ride Length
- Medium — One source describes medium ride lengths; another quantifies 50–150 meters.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Solid ride length on lefts is noted; right sandbars may create short barrel sections in some reports.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Lighthouse Beach (Nettley Bay) in the full forecast view.
Lighthouse Beach (Nettley Bay) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 4–16 ktsGusts 31 kts
- Direction
- WSW240°
- Strongest day
- Wed, Oct 2816 kts
- Windy days
- 4/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 2.2–3.5 m10s period
- Temperature
- 9–16 °C
Over the next 7 days, Lighthouse Beach (Nettley Bay) is forecast for daytime winds of 4–16 kts, peaking around 16 kts on Wednesday, October 28 with gusts to 31 kts. The prevailing direction is WSW. Waves run 2.2–3.5 m with a period of about 10s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rips
- Undertow
- Strong currents
- Rocks
- Kelp
- Isolation
- Cold water
- Sharks
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguard presence reported by one provider; another provider reports none.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Remote area; limited/no dedicated on-site rescue services. Self-sufficiency is required.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest medical facilities are in Smithton (about an hour drive away). In an emergency, call 000.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — Mild localism is noted, with no specific local rules reported.
Rules of the spot
Respect the natural environment of the West Point State Reserve; standard beach safety applies.
- Remote access may require 4WD depending on recent weather and track conditions.
- No dedicated rescue/lifeguard coverage on site.
- Rarely crowded; works at all tides.
- Bring all supplies as there are no facilities nearby.
- Always surf with a partner due to extreme remoteness.
- Surf-forecast notes expect very cold water (around 13°C in winter); a good 4/3 suit and boots are essential.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Marrawah
- Nearest Town
- Marrawah
- Nearest Airport
- Burnie Airport (BWT) (~125 km)
- Parking
- Parking available near the surf club at the northern end; limited unpaved parking near access tracks is also reported.
- Public Transport
- Non-existent/limited—access typically requires a private 4WD or sturdy vehicle
- Access
- Shore access from beach path; gravel-track access through the West Point State Reserve is reported by one provider.
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Camping is available in nearby Marrawah and Arthur River.
- Food & Drink
- No facilities on site; supplies available in Marrawah.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is not available; riders should bring their own gear and spares.
- Gear Storage
- No gear storage available in the immediate region.
- Gear Repair
- No local repair available; nearest specialty repair options are in Burnie or Devonport.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Lighthouse Beach (Nettley Bay)?
The best overall months at Lighthouse Beach (Nettley Bay) are January, February, March. The best wind months are February.
Which wind directions work at Lighthouse Beach (Nettley Bay)?
Lighthouse Beach (Nettley Bay) works with E winds. Offshore directions are E.
What skill level is Lighthouse Beach (Nettley Bay) suitable for?
Lighthouse Beach (Nettley Bay) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.